Banged-up FC Dallas hopes to bounce back in regular-season finale

Club needs win to have a shot at third seed in Western Conference

FRISCO — FC Dallas’ 3-0 loss to Toronto FC in the CONCACAF Champions League on Tuesday was quite possibly the low point of what has become a tough 2011 season.

Not only was FCD severely outplayed at home and eliminated from CCL play, but two starters came away from that match with lingering injuries.

Central midfielder Ricardo Villar suffered a foot injury in the first half and came off at halftime. The more disconcerting injury came late in the game when flank midfielder Brek Shea, an MLS MVP candidate, was taken down and landed hard on his neck.

Villar and Shea are among five regular starters who didn’t make the trip to San Jose. Also staying home were goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, captain and midfielder Daniel Hernandez, and central midfielder Andrew Jacobson.

FCD has clinched a playoff berth but must win Saturday’s regular-season finale to have a shot at earning the third seed in the Western Conference and avoiding the wild-card round.

Dallas will also be missing versatile Brazilian Jackson Goncalves after he picked up a fifth yellow card in last week’s 2-0 victory over Vancouver to earn a suspension. It’s not the first time Jackson has missed a match this year for what his coach dubs a lack of “emotional intelligence.”

“It’s almost like crying over spilled milk, isn’t it? You keep talking about the same things,” Schellas Hyndman said. “There’s got to be some accountability on the player’s part. It’s not an age thing. It’s just being accountable and responsible.”

FCD faces an Earthquakes team that will not make the playoffs for the second straight year. Even though Frank Yallop’s side doesn’t have much to play for other than pride, Dallas isn’t about to its opponents them lightly.

“Like many teams, and Toronto falls into that category, they [San Jose] are coming into form right now. They’re playing the best soccer,” Hyndman said. “They’re playing for some pride. They’re playing for their next contracts.”

Besides the recent wins over Vancouver and Chicago, Hyndman’s team has only one victory since Aug. 27 — and one came in a friendly against Mexico’s Tigres on Sept. 3. Still, the coach continues to express optimism.

“It’s really important that we stay positive,” Hyndman said. “We’re not where we were last year when we got into the playoffs. Last year, we were very focused and playing our best soccer. I think this team has that ability to turn that back on. We have to start to get back into doing the little things that matter.”

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